April 2011
Garbage collection
The debate about privatizing all of Toronto's garbage collection has finally begun. We welcome the debate and look forward to hearing the arguments of the stakeholders. In our view, privatizing Toronto's garbage collection will have tremendous benefits to the residents of the City and result in significant savings. While we understand the union's position, no one has to lose their job over privatized garbage collection. Workers can be easily accommodated in those private businesses and their jobs can be protected through a plan that sees private business take on city workers. This has worked in other jurisdictions. The greatest benefit to residents, however, will be the end to threat of strike by City workers unless their contract demands are met. The City can no longer afford disproportionately high wages and gold-plated employee benefits. If privatizing garbage collection will help the City reduce its payroll and streamline government without reducing the quality of service, then this option has a lot of merit.
Holyday wrong to seek reimbursement for legal expenses
Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday is wrong to ask the City to reimburse him for nearly $90,000 in legal expenses he incurred in fighting City Hall to quash a By-law which reimbursed other councillors for their personal legal expenses. Based on his own argument and the decision of the court, he ought to know that the City simply cannot make such reimbursement. This topic is the issue of our April 2011 newsletter. Please download it from our Home Page. We conclude that if Councillor Holyday is not happy with his legal bill, he should have it assessed.
